Volunteers

Volunteering is a rewarding way of giving up your time. There are many reasons why people choose to volunteer, such as:

• Giving something back to the hospital
• To help others
• Interested in a career in healthcare
• Gain experience; help develop their CV
• Meet new people
• For personal reasons; improve self-confidence, social interaction, reasons relating to their health

To apply to become a volunteer:

• download the Volunteers application form
• complete the application form and return it with three forms of identification (as described on the application form) to the Volunteers inbox volunteers@uhcw.nhs.uk

Or

• Come into the hospital (UHCW) and ask for an application form at the Volunteers’ Information Desk in the main Entrance or come to the Volunteers Office on the 1^st Floor between wards 10 and 11.

ENTRY CRITERIA

If you are considering applying to become a volunteer, please ensure you meet our entry requirements before submitting an application:

• You must be 16 years of age or older
• You must have the right to work in the UK

WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT REQUIRED TO BE A VOLUNTEER AT UHCW NHS TRUST?

Regular commitment from our volunteers is extremely important to us. We are incredibly grateful to all the volunteers who give up their time. We require volunteers to commit to a volunteering shift of two to three hours a week, for at least six months unless we specifically state otherwise.

WILL I NEED TO HAVE A DBS (DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE) CHECK TO VOLUNTEER?

Yes, we complete DBS checks for all of our volunteers. The checks are free and completed online. We will take you through the process and will provide you with more information after you have expressed an interest in volunteering.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FROM SUBMITTING MY APPLICATION TO STARTING VOLUNTEERING?

We aim to start processing applications within two weeks. This depends on applicants completing their paperwork in a timely manner. There could be delays caused by the DBS, Occupational Health clearance (MyCority), the speed of your references responding.

As part of the application process we invite you in for an informal meeting to meet you in person, to discuss your interests, and to decide what volunteering role may best suit you.

DO I GET EXPENSES PAID?

Volunteers are entitled to free car parking or can have their bus/train fare (within the West Midlands area) reimbursed for the days they are on duty only.

I NEED A PLACEMENT FOR A COURSE I AM DOING, CAN YOU PROVIDE THIS?

Volunteering is not a work placement or work experience and you are not assessed; this is volunteering your time to benefit patients and staff. For work placements or work experience please contact our Work Experience Department on workexperience@uhcw.nhs.uk.

REFERENCES

References from the department can only be requested after six months of regular/active volunteering.

ANY QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions please email us at volunteers@uhcw.nhs.uk or call 024 7696 5146/024 7696 5147

Meet and Greet Volunteers
Our Meet and Greet Volunteers welcome patients and visitors, help people navigate their way around the hospital, to identify their destination and reassure and support them by providing them with clear and accurate information. Additionally supporting with using hospital wheelchair assistance if required to escort patients/visitors to appointments/wards. 

Response Volunteer- Pathology Samples
The volunteer collects pathology specimen samples from wards and delivers them to the Pathology Specimen Reception to help speed up sample processes and help staff and patients.

Patient Surveys
Using iPads volunteers are required to conduct patient surveys including the Friends and Family Test and other ad hoc surveys either at Trust or Specialty/Departmental level. Training will be provided for this role. Shifts are available Monday – Friday between 9am –12 noon and 1pm –4pm.

Mealtime Companion
Providing nutrition and hydration support to our patients by supporting them at mealtimes. This will include feeding patients or supporting and encouraging them to eat and drink. Additional training is required for this role.

Drinks Trolley
Providing refreshments to patients on wards at University Hospital Coventry. Shifts available Mon – Sun (10am –12, 3pm –5pm, 5:30 –7pm). Additional training is required for this role.

Compassionate Communities 
Our compassionate Communities Volunteers deliver a person-centred service which helps to build community connectedness and wellbeing.
•    A regular commitment is essential for this role.
•    This role is in various locations: out in the community, in people’s homes, in hospital visits, or over the phone. It is about being alongside people to offer support and encouragement.
•    Opportunities include helping to support and facilitate a safe space and environment for people to be able to explore their feelings and thoughts in a confidential manner by listening and giving them a voice.
•    Supporting and encouraging people and their families/ carers during end-of-life illnesses using empathetic listening skills and companionship.
•    Being a key volunteer assisting to facilitate a community-based support group for people living with a long-term health condition and / or bereavement support group. Additional training and support will be provided for these roles. 

Patient Visitor
Patient Visitors interact with patients who may feel lonely, isolated, bored on the wards. They can make a difference to a patient stay with a friendly visit and a chat or help pass the time with some fun activities.

Keep Active Volunteers
Patients in hospital, especially older people or those living with frailty are at risk of becoming deconditioned. Deconditioning means the changes which happen to your body and mind following a period of illness, inactivity or bed rest.  This role involves helping patients to stay active during their hospital stay.  Volunteers will visit patients on a ward and complete hands-off, simple exercises with them, or do simple activities and games to help them keep their bodies and minds active. Additional training is required for this role.

Renal Befrienders
We are looking for kind, compassionate individuals to join our team and provide vital social support and companionship to patients receiving dialysis at UHCW.  The ongoing necessity of haemodialysis treatment makes it difficult for patients to maintain employment and engage in regular social activities which can lead to severe social isolation.  This role directly addresses this critical need.  Additional training is required for this role.

DNA Reduction Telephone Volunteers
When a patient misses their hospital appointment, it is referred to as ‘Did Not Attend’. Millions of appointments in the NHS are missed annually, often for reasons out of their control or linked to health inequalities. As a DNA Reduction volunteer, your task is to telephone patients to remind them of their upcoming appointment and make notes of any requests to reschedule or cancel and other enquiries to hand over to the administrative team. This work is extremely important as you will be contributing to better patient experience and preventing missed appointments.

Patient Partner
Patient Partners are members of the public who have an interest in being part of improvements to the services provided at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) by working in partnership with the Trust to drive the patient’s voice. This role is to support developing our Patient Partner forum and continue to represent the diversity of the community. To participate in Patient Partner meetings every 6 weeks, with a minimum of 4 times a year. Involvement through UHCW and Community groups will be either virtual (online) or face to face.

Coventry Hospital Radio
If this is an area of interest to you, let us know, and we will put you in contact with a member of the committee.

Chaplaincy Lay Visitor
The work of a Lay Visitor is to complement the work of the Chaplaincy Team and all other hospital staff, never to replace it. The main purpose is to help with the pastoral, spiritual and religious support of patients, families or carers and staff. Lay Visitors enjoy spending time with people on a one-to-one basis but always remembering that they are on the ward as a guest. Volunteers should be able to provide a reference from their own faith group.

Volunteer Driver
As a Volunteer Driver, you will provide a professional and dedicated transportation service in your own vehicle taking patients to University Hospital and the Hospital of St Cross.  Patients are generally mobile and require escorting between the vehicle and the clinic or home address. You will also be required to deliver equipment and medication to patients’ homes. Please note: A four-door vehicle is required for transporting patients. You will be re-imbursed 45p per mile.

Ray Totten

After a short stay in University Hospital and watching volunteers come on to the ward to help with feeding etc I said to myself I can do that. I am retired so had time on my hands toy box permitting.

I have had first class treatment for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm at Northampton General, and a course of Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer and a five-day layover for Diabetes, I made my mind up to put something back.

I had an application form sent to me, filled it in and I put ward work and driving as my preferred work. At the induction given by Sukie I was asked if driving my own car appealed to me and, after the explanation of what was wanted, I stepped up and said yes.

I never really know what is going to happen from one day to the next or even hour to hour some days, a call from Kristine, Sukie or Cherelle in the volunteers’ office can alter my plans with pick-ups from anywhere to go to University Hospital or the Hospital of St Cross or to take a patient home.

My car is a Chrysler 300, which is not a Bentley as many of my passengers think it is.

I have lived in in Coventry for two years and would recommend volunteering to anyone.

Christine Masterton

I began working as a volunteer for the phlebotomy department at University Hospital in 2013. I started my volunteer work by visiting different wards completing satisfaction surveys with patients. I found this to be a very interesting role, talking to real people about their experiences and getting to offer an ear to listen when people need it the most. 

Soon after, I then moved to the check-in desk where I would offer assistance to those who needed help checking in for their blood test. I love to help people so the role fitted well with why I wanted to be a volunteer in the first place. Alongside this I took on another role in the Arden Centre for the breast care nurses helping them with paperwork and putting information packs together, this led on to helping with the Look Good Feel Better scheme that the hospital runs for women with cancer. Serving tea and coffee to the lovely ladies that visited the group whilst they were either getting treated or have just finished their treatment. This was one of my favourite parts of my job over the years.

I became a volunteer originally because I wanted to give back to the NHS. Over my time, friends and family, those close to me, have all come under the care of the amazing doctors and nurses of the National Health Service. It only felt right for me volunteer my time to try and help too. Being at the Arden Centre especially means a lot to me as cancer has touched my family and I felt it is the best way to thank the wonderful members of staff that have treated those close to me.

I feel a sense of satisfaction in contributing my time, as well as enjoying the camaraderie of fellow volunteers. I look forward to coming in a few days a week to play my part in the hospital assisting with patients and staff. I can honestly say I love what I do and after seven years I have a lot of memories and I am looking forward to being there for years to come.

Ash Patini

Nineteen years ago, my Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given six to 12 months to live. I was 42 years old then. This news took a while for it to sink in for the both of us. My Mum wanted no one around other than me to help and support her through this frightening and unknown journey. Although, I felt so privileged, equally I was scared out of my wits and shed so many tears behind my Mum’s back as she depended on my strength to help her through this tragic time.

I had no perception of the NHS as I never had any great need for it as I generally enjoyed good health.

As time went on and we had constant visits to this hospital for my Mum’s treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy and generally to speak to consultants and nursing staff.

Over time my world seemed to divide into two; the one I was living and working in and the other with the NHS and its staff. The care and compassion given to me and my Mum started to become my real world and one which I wanted to be a part of. I’ve never seen anything like it before; the incredible dedication, commitment and how tirelessly the NHS staff worked and most of all their care and compassion shown to me.

Sadly, 11 months later my Mum passed away. I went back to my superficial world and yet my thoughts were constantly with the NHS staff that helped me through these tough times. The only way I felt I could pay the NHS back was somehow to give my time and emulate some of the care and compassion shown to me.

The desire was so strong that I held this vision for the next 14 years and took the opportunity to retire early at the age of 57 and started my long-awaited venture as a volunteer with this hospital. The feeling was so euphoric and equally scary as this was a massive turning point in my life.

I have been a volunteer for almost five years now and the purpose is so incredible that it cannot be matched by anything I have done in the past. I’m finally part of the real world and by far they have been the best five years of my life.

My motivation and drive comes from the teams or people I work with. It’s an immense joy to be surrounded by caring, compassionate people who work tirelessly and brings me a huge amount of satisfaction if I can be part of making their lives easier.

Finally, I’ve been quite reluctant to publicise what I do as it’s an inherited value from my Mum that I should quietly be giving something back without any praise or glory.

Let’s face it how often do we take time out to praise and glorify the NHS.

 

Bizhan Efteki

I have always wanted to work in the heath sector and to follow in the footsteps of my mum as she is a nurse and runs a clinic for heart patients, at UHCW. From when I was young, I heard from my mum of how great it is to work for UHCW, so becoming a volunteer was the logical step for me.

When I joined, I had no idea what it was going to be like. I have a diagnosis of high-functioning autism, which can make it difficult to communicate what I want to say. In addition to my autism I am visually impaired, which means that I may need extra support with filling out any paperwork.

Becoming a volunteer helped me to improve my communication skills, as well as my ability to respond to situations and has made me a more confident person.

Everyone that I work with from those at the help desk to Kristine and Sukie, who oversee our volunteer team, have been supportive and helpful. Overall, becoming a volunteer has helped me become confident in myself.